Elizabeth Williams Speaks Out Ahead of CBA Negotiations, WNBA Lock Out Probable

"We Built This: Inside the WNBA’s CBA Standoff and What’s at Stake"

The WNBA is on the verge of a labor showdown that could reshape the future of the league and the sports business at large. As negotiations around the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) heat up, players are making one thing clear: they’re no longer asking for a seat at the table. They’re demanding their fair share of the table they helped build.

A Ticking Clock Toward All-Star Weekend

With just weeks to go before All-Star Weekend, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), are sounding the alarm: the current system is unsustainable. Despite historic growth across nearly every league metric, i.e. media rights, team valuations, attendance, and merchandise sales, player salaries remain capped, restricted by outdated financial models that don't reflect the league's new reality.

Elizabeth Williams, WNBPA Secretary and Chicago Sky center, read a statement that reflected a unified stance in the post game press conference in Atlanta:

“We’re fighting for a fair share of the business we built. Every other category across this business has grown—media rights, ticket sales, team values. The only thing that’s still capped is player salaries.”

The message is simple: this is business. And business is booming, that is, for everyone except the athletes.

What Happens if the Players Walk?

If progress stalls, the league could face a player lockout or work stoppage. While such a move would be unprecedented in the WNBA’s near 30 year history, it's no longer a long shot. A lockout would freeze one of the most exciting eras in women’s basketball just as it’s reaching a global popularity with players like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and Angel Reese becoming household names.

WNBA players Angel Reese and Dijonai Carrington talk about the potential lockout on an episode of Reese's podcast "Unapologetically Angel"

A lockout would do more than just disrupt games, it could disrupt business deals, media partnerships, and the momentum the WNBA has been working to build for years. But from the players’ perspective, the alternative is worse: continuing to operate under an agreement that undervalues their labor and limits their earning potential in a billion-dollar marketplace.

Eyes on the Commissioner

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert finds herself at the center of the storm. While the league has seen growth under her tenure, she’s also faced growing backlash from players and fans alike.

Tensions rose when Engelbert went on national television during a primetime broadcast and condoned the racist treatment of players by defending fan behavior that many deemed blatantly discriminatory. The WNBPA quickly responded, calling her comments “unacceptable” and expressing outrage at a league executive downplaying real harm faced by Black women athletes.

Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner since 2019

Now, the question looms: If Engelbert cannot secure a deal that meets the players’ expectations, is her position as the commissioner at risk? Calls for accountability are growing louder, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the board could consider a leadership change if negotiations break down and trust erodes further.

It is also important to note that the WNBA recently reached an agreement on a contract extension with E.W. Scripps Company to keep airing Friday night games on ION.  

The Power Shift

For years, the WNBA’s growth was driven by corporate sponsors, league marketing, and expansion plans. But in 2024 and 2025, the needle has moved because the players moved it. Their social media power, cultural influence, and on-court excellence have brought new fans, bigger checks, and global conversations.

The players know their worth, and this time, they’re negotiating from a position of strength. Fans are filling arenas. Ratings are up. The merch is flying off shelves. And the people showing up aren’t just buying into teams, they’re investing in the women who built the league.

Elizabeth Williams said it best:

“We see the fans showing up, tuning in, buying merch, growing the game. And we want to grow with it.”

Elizabeth Williams reads statement from the WNBPA in post game press conference in Atlanta. Video from CSOM

The league is growing. The fans are growing. And now, the players are demanding the league’s leadership grow with them, or they will opt out. With ventures like Unrivaled League and Athletes Unlimited, they have options. 

Because one thing is clear: the players hold the power now, and they mean business.